It's Day 3 of the Christmas of Dreams Blog Party. Today's blog topic is... When do you start Christmas shopping? How do you budget for Christmas? Do you stick to your budget?
Well I typically pick things up through the year that I see that are on sale and I know my son or husband will like. We have an idea of how much we will spend and we try to stay within that limit. It's very important to us that we don't get too many things for our son. We hate to waste the money, and quite frankly, a lot of toys only hold their interest for a short time anyway and we just don't see the need to spend the money. Our son loves simple toys like blocks, balls, puzzles and crayons, so we try to stick with things that help him use his imagination. Oh, and of course his favorites are books. I try to pick up books throughout the year as well, and keep everything in a safe place that I know he can't get into. We want to stress to our son that Christmas isn't just about presents and how many he receives. Once he is a bit older we are planning to make a tradition of giving gifts to children that don't receive gifts, or volunteer at a food kitchen - but we want him to see that it isn't just about him. The media often makes us feel that if we don't get the latest and greatest toys for our children that we are depriving them, and that is simply not true. The most important gifts aren't material things :).
Sponsored by: Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag. To read more Holiday budgeting visit: MomDot Day 3
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8 comments:
I have to agree, the best things aren't materialistic. I remember so many things from holidays growing up, and not a single memory has to deal with what presents I got that year. It's all about family and enjoying our time together.
Love your thoughts on gifts at Christmas. This year I'm having my boys help with filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. I want them to learn that giving is much more rewarding than receiving.
I pick up things all year long as well.
"The media often makes us feel that if we don't get the latest and greatest toys for our children that we are depriving them, and that is simply not true. The most important gifts aren't material things :)."
I couldn't agree more!!!
The child I nanny for is 12 and buys his christmas gifts at the santa shop at his school most things are a $1-3. The nanny gets the traditional calendar that hangs on the pantry closet. He gets his piano teacher's dogs a toy. We do the shoeboxes as well.
http://www.nannyadventures.com/freebies-contests/post-100-celebration-time-with-a-giveaway-by-just-g-lbd/
you're right. it's not about the gifts.
I totally agree with you. My teens now remember when we all sit down and put cloves into oranges, lemons and limes, they remember having everyone over for Yule.. Christmas is just the memory of stuff they get. Toys come and go... so good to keep that in perspective!
I think your attitude of it not being about gifts is great! We try to stress that it is about giving and also about the birth of Jesus. My husband and I get caught up sometimes because we love giving gifts, but we try and instill the lessons too.
I'm trying to tell my 7yo that it's not about how many presents are under the tree.
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